Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[IanFarquharson]

Didn't they buy the land south of the A45 (castle hill and beyond) for a new runway and car parking whilst they expanded the current site southwards (original master plan), also a ham fisted idea of new runway the other side of the M42 with a long taxiway. So there is room for airport expansion but they currently seem reluctant to finance proper expansion and just cheapish and nastily infill every part possible.
They could almost double the terminal area by building on the premium set down area and then extend aircraft stands on carpark 5 (which was the original plan) buy the NEC carpark (old staff car park) next to the train station and build a big multi story car park.
Build a new airport ! Don't make me laugh, they have lost the appetite to properly invest in the current airport due to costs.

What they should do is buy the Elmdon Trading Estate and build a new terminal on there whilst the current can stay opetational througout.
Then knock down the current terminal so it just aircraft parking and link the new terminal (air side) accross the railway line.
This would massively expand the BHX site.

 

[Nethercote2019]

What they should do is buy the Elmdon Trading Estate and build a new terminal on there whilst the current can stay opetational througout.
Then knock down the current terminal so it just aircraft parking and link the new terminal (air side) accross the railway line.
This would massively expand the BHX site.

Ian … you’ve got the job it sounds exactly what should be done !
But it’s more likely they will convert the car wash bay into a baggage hall

 

[Deleted member 8277]

What they should do is buy the Elmdon Trading Estate and build a new terminal on there whilst the current can stay opetational througout.
Then knock down the current terminal so it just aircraft parking and link the new terminal (air side) accross the railway line.
This would massively expand the BHX site.

I think there would be cities on mars before that would happen.

 

[nwoody2001]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1776337404451823767

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

That’s not that bad

 

[Nibbles]

But you've missed the two big problems - airfield capacity and planning.

At the moment, stands are BHX's issue - there arent enough places to turn around enough aircraft quickly enough to utilise the runway to its full effectiveness. For the runway to operate at its theoretical max number of movements, they need far more stands. That's what the expansion to the south (something akin to the drawing above, minus the terminal (BHX's prior plan had a satellite pier where the northern remotes are, which fulfils the same basic purpose)) is essentially about.

But, once you've built that, your next blocker becomes airfield capacity. You can titivate a bit with rapid exit taxiways and the like, but your biggest problem is that the only way to reach the northern end of the runway is a taxi along a single taxiway with no airfield facilities adjacent, and no prospect of there ever being another taxiway or any facility expansion because of the noise mound and, more importantly, the houses beyond. That will always constrain movements, to around 30mppa. It doesnt matter how big the terminal is at that point. The ideas mooted above of works on the western side might help a little - particularly if there is a taxiway provided on the western side of the runway - but its not going to be a huge increase, and will nevertheless cost a small fortune to deliver (£2-3bn, i guess). And dont forget that the Elmdon side brings in all the cargo revenue which is booming currently.

And all of that needs to get planning permission . I see absolutely no prospect of planning being granted for wholesale change at the airport, particularly given the impact on the entire eastern side of the city. It may well be the case that the minor amendment to build more stands, because of its link to increasing movements overall (and hence increasing the potential mppa the airport can operate to), will struggle to get planning permission also (more pax = more flights = more noise). The government are currently looking favourable to that, though...!

All of this is why, imo, the long term solution is to move the airport, building it in a place where you can maximise efficiency. But the costs of that will be astronomical, and i dont really think there is demand for another 60mppa airport alongside Manchester/Gatwick/Heathrow. BHX would only grow to those sort of numbers if Heathrow (probably) was closed, which is vanishingly unlikely to happen. On that basis, it wont happen (barring a major change to government policy, which also looks vanishingly unlikely).

I dont think you can honestly put this down to a lack of imagination or vision from the airport. The time to have done something different was 30+ years ago, by lobbying government to move airport capacity away from London. That would've gone hand in hand with policies to promote growth outside of London rather than the policy that essentially sucked the life out of Birmingham.

N.B. I have just thought that one blue sky idea that might work on the current site would be to effectively shunt the runway half a mile or so further south, bridging the A45 and possibly the new link road (or getting up to the edge of). That, combined with the idea above of expanding the south side of the terminal might allow you to operate a far more efficient airport overall (no long taxi to/from runway end), going some way beyond the 30mppa current runway theoretical limit. Im not sure you'd ever be able to get to Gatwick type numbers, though.

 

[IanFarquharson]

But you've missed the two big problems - airfield capacity and planning.

At the moment, stands are BHX's issue - there arent enough places to turn around enough aircraft quickly enough to utilise the runway to its full effectiveness. For the runway to operate at its theoretical max number of movements, they need far more stands. That's what the expansion to the south (something akin to the drawing above, minus the terminal (BHX's prior plan had a satellite pier where the northern remotes are, which fulfils the same basic purpose)) is essentially about.

But, once you've built that, your next blocker becomes airfield capacity. You can titivate a bit with rapid exit taxiways and the like, but your biggest problem is that the only way to reach the northern end of the runway is a taxi along a single taxiway with no airfield facilities adjacent, and no prospect of there ever being another taxiway or any facility expansion because of the noise mound and, more importantly, the houses beyond. That will always constrain movements, to around 30mppa. It doesnt matter how big the terminal is at that point. The ideas mooted above of works on the western side might help a little - particularly if there is a taxiway provided on the western side of the runway - but its not going to be a huge increase, and will nevertheless cost a small fortune to deliver (£2-3bn, i guess). And dont forget that the Elmdon side brings in all the cargo revenue which is booming currently.

And all of that needs to get planning permission . I see absolutely no prospect of planning being granted for wholesale change at the airport, particularly given the impact on the entire eastern side of the city. It may well be the case that the minor amendment to build more stands, because of its link to increasing movements overall (and hence increasing the potential mppa the airport can operate to), will struggle to get planning permission also (more pax = more flights = more noise). The government are currently looking favourable to that, though...!

All of this is why, imo, the long term solution is to move the airport, building it in a place where you can maximise efficiency. But the costs of that will be astronomical, and i dont really think there is demand for another 60mppa airport alongside Manchester/Gatwick/Heathrow. BHX would only grow to those sort of numbers if Heathrow (probably) was closed, which is vanishingly unlikely to happen. On that basis, it wont happen (barring a major change to government policy, which also looks vanishingly unlikely).

I dont think you can honestly put this down to a lack of imagination or vision from the airport. The time to have done something different was 30+ years ago, by lobbying government to move airport capacity away from London. That would've gone hand in hand with policies to promote growth outside of London rather than the policy that essentially sucked the life out of Birmingham.

N.B. I have just thought that one blue sky idea that might work on the current site would be to effectively shunt the runway half a mile or so further south, bridging the A45 and possibly the new link road (or getting up to the edge of). That, combined with the idea above of expanding the south side of the terminal might allow you to operate a far more efficient airport overall (no long taxi to/from runway end), going some way beyond the 30mppa current runway theoretical limit. Im not sure you'd ever be able to get to Gatwick type numbers, though.

I still think the Elmdon Trading Estate is where BHX needs to re-build the terminal

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

This is my idea
Why not put the fuel farm by the cargo terminal including the fire station.

Ians idea is simply the best solution about knocking down elmdon trading estate and creating terminal 2&3

Car park 5 should be multi storey car park.

Drop off should be substituted for coaches taxis and local buses.

Runway should be extended over the A45 with a perfect viewing area.

airport should invest in the golf course for cargo,Warehouses and production.

 

[IanFarquharson]

This is my idea
Why not put the fuel farm by the cargo terminal including the fire station.

Ians idea is simply the best solution about knocking down elmdon trading estate and creating terminal 2&3

Car park 5 should be multi storey car park.

Drop off should be substituted for coaches taxis and local buses.

Runway should be extended over the A45 with a perfect viewing area.

airport should invest in the golf course for cargo,Warehouses and production.

Not sure why you would extend the runway acrross the A45 when it is full length runway already ?

Also my idea would be a big new single terminal with existing ones being demolised.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Moving the fuel farm was mentioned a few master plans ago and it was deemed too expensive. One drawing actually had the apron and taxiways extended around it.

I think we're going to have to wait until next year for the updated master plan, hopefully developed by new owners, to see the level of ambition as it's all a bit underwhelming at the moment.

I'm still wondering how they're going to get 18mppa through the current set up when it's struggling to do 13m. An extra baggage belt and three new Border Force desks is not even going to scratch the surface.

 

[jfy1999]

I think the best option is remain on the current site with expansion south into the car parks.

All the infrastructure of road junctions, etc. has been built up around the current site, and it has been continually built up and modified over the years to cope with airport traffic. If we move the terminal anywhere else we’d be having to start again with a new seres of road improvements. The Elmdon side, for example, is served by a single traffic-light T-junction and improving it would take years of disruption on the A45. It would also move airport traffic closer to the suburbs.

The biggest plus with the current site is that it has extremely fast links to the motorway and railway stations. HS2 link is a nice bonus, but I would argue that it is more important to remain closer to International station, as it has many local train services. It will always be the case that more of the passengers using the train will be heading to local destinations rather than London and Manchester.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Elmdon work to start early May 2025​

Full details here

https://nats-uk.ead-it.com/cms-nats/opencms/en/Publications/aip-supplements/EG_Sup_2025_031_en.pdf

 

[alfalpha]

Interesting, any idea what the plan is?

BTW a glaring typo in the document, the work must start 2025 not 2024.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I don't think there is anything new in here other than the conformation of new stand capacity. I'm sure it will all look very nice when done but I'm still of the opinion that until new terminal space is built it will struggle to cope with the extra pax. That won't happen until new shareholders though so until we do I guess it's make the best of what you have.

He also claims to have 'overcome the challenges seen in security'. Were there not queues of over a hour only a week or two ago?

Birmingham Airport (BHX) has announced its Capital Investment plan, totalling £76.5m over the next 12 months. This plan equates to around £1.5m being spent each week, as the airport gears up for further growth, having closed off its biggest year for passengers’ numbers in 2024.

Published 2 May 2025

Major projects in the making include further retail and hospitality offerings alongside new lounges and terminal refurbishments, all poised to enhance the airport experience, offering passengers more space and choice. Out on the airfield, ongoing upgrades to the runway, maintenance bases and the expansion of stand capacity will be rolled out. Back of house, baggage carousels, makeup areas and vehicle replacements all form part of the biggest investment the airport will see in one year alone.

With many projects already underway, construction areas at the airport are visible, but limited to cause the least disruption. Overnight works will be prioritised where possible to ensure that projects are completed and handed over to new partners and passengers, as quickly as possible.
Nick Barton, CEO at Birmingham Airport said: “Last year over 13m passengers flew through our airport, but 2025 will be even busier. We have already made significant investment in our terminal and airfield and our most significant spending programme to date, demonstrates our confidence in continued growth. Last year we completed 14 openings and refurbishments across the retail and catering estate, and we have overcome the challenges seen in security.

“Now we look ahead, with this year off to a flying start and one that will deliver our busiest to date with up to 14m forecast to use Birmingham Airport. With more passengers, we need improved facilities not only for our customers, but for our colleagues too. This significant investment over the next year, will ensure we can continue to build on operational efficiency, whilst improving our resilience and offering greater choice. This is an exciting time for Birmingham Airport, its people, partners and passengers alike.”

Today’s announcement follows on from a £10m project announced less than a month ago, improving baggage capability and resilience, alongside reconfiguration of Immigration Halls providing more space.

Birmingham Airport continues to work on its ambitious on-going capital plan, responsible for asset replacement, ensuring capacity growth and environmental improvements.

https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk...rt-announces-biggest-investment-plan-to-date/

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Solihull planners considered latest application on BHX McDonald's restaurant

Fast food giant McDonald's plan for new restaurant at BHX move steps closer

www.birminghammail.co.uk

Airport agony

 

[HPsauce]

Solihull planners considered latest application on BHX McDonald's restaurant

Fast food giant McDonald's plan for new restaurant at BHX move steps closer

www.birminghammail.co.uk

Airport agony

I agree. This proposed McDonald's seems ill thought out. It's position will undoubtedly cause traffic problems at a vital access point to the terminal approach road. It will also add considerably to the already large amount of litter in that area.
This seems like a 'money talks' venture. There are plenty of McDonald's within 2 miles of this site.
Construction will also cause issues just at a time when BHX is getting straight from terminal improvements.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I agree. This proposed McDonald's seems ill thought out. It's position will undoubtedly cause traffic problems at a vital access point to the terminal approach road. It will also add considerably to the already large amount of litter in that area.

I'd have thought this would be much better placed on the A45 by the new Starbucks and petrol station?

It'll be interesting to see the updated master plan as I think the old one may have used this land for future development.

 

[G-MANS]

Does anyone know what work is being done to gates 56/57 and beyond? It's sealed off inside for work with all departures from 54 down. Stands 57/58 out of action as a result.

 

[IanFarquharson]

https://www.insidermedia.com/news/m...o-support-its-biggest-investment-plan-to-date

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

https://www.insidermedia.com/news/m...o-support-its-biggest-investment-plan-to-date

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